Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Master Plan 2008
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Old Fourth Ward Master Plan September 2008 Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates Acknowledgements The Honorable Mayor Shirley Franklin The Old Fourth Ward Community Neighborhood Planning Unit M Atlanta City Council Derek Matory, Chair Lisa Borders, President David Patton, Land Use Chair Central Atlanta Neighbors Carla Smith, District 1 Lydia Meredith, President Kwanza Hall, District 2 Fourth Ward Alliance Ivory Lee Young Jr., District 3 Cedric Stallworth, President Cleta Winslow, District 4 Fourth Ward Neighbors Forrest Coley, President Natalyn Mosby Archibong, District 5 Historic District Development Corporation Anne Fauver, District 6 Joan Garner, President and CEO Howard Shook, District 7 Members of the Master Plan Advisory Committee Clair Muller, District 8 Members of the Master Plan Working Groups: Felicia A. Moore, District 9 Education, Public Safety, and Sustainability C.T. Martin, District 10 Jim Maddox, District 11 Neighborhood Associations of Joyce Sheperd, District 12 Atlanta City Council District 2 Ceasar C. Mitchell, Post 1 At-Large Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association Mary Norwood, Post 2 At-Large Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association H. Lamar Willis, Post 3 At-Large Central Atlanta Neighbors Fourth Ward Alliance Department of Planning and Fourth Ward Neighbors Community Development Historic District Development Corporation Steven Cover, Commissioner Home Park Civic Improvement Association Bureau of Planning Inman Park Neighborhood Association Charletta Wilson Jacks, Acting Director Marietta Street Artery Association Garnett Brown, Assistant Director Midtown Neighbors Association Heather Alhadeff, Assistant Director Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association Jonathan Gelber, Senior Planner Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Department of Public Works Associates Joe Basista, Commissioner Caleb Racicot, Principal Woody Giles, Planner Department of Parks Ross Wallace, Planner Diane Harnell Cohen, Commissioner Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Atlanta Police Department, Zone 5 National Parks Service Major Khirus Williams, Commander Judy Forte, Superintendent, Martin Luther King Atlanta Public Schools Jr. National Historic Site Beverly Hall, Superintendent Friends of Historic Fourth Ward Park iii Acknowledgements Leadership Atlanta Facility Donations The following organizations made their facilities available for Grassroots Institute community and advisory committee meetings: Aida Rentas, Executive Director Atlanta Medical Center City Hall East John Hope Elementary School Georgia Power Cassandra Ashley, Principal Helene S. Mills Senior Center Atlanta City Council Office of National Parks Service Communications St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Dexter Chambers Bruce Morton Trees Atlanta Thermice Bevelle Walden Middle School Service Donations The following organizations provided donations of time and services to the master planning process: American Institute of Architects, Atlanta Chapter 2008 High School Student Design Competition Ecos Environmental Design, Inc. Georgia Tech College of Architecture Spring 2008 studios of Professor David Green Livable Communities Coalition Smith-Dalia Architects Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates iv Table of Contents Part 1: Executive Summary . ..................................................1 Part 2: Context and History . .................................................11 Part 3: Existing Conditions ...................................................17 Section 3.1: Land Use . ....................................................18 Section 3.2: Infrastructure & Facilities . ........................................22 Section 3.3: Parks &Open Space. .24 Section 3.4: Urban Design ..................................................27 Section 3.5: Historic Preservation . ...........................................29 Section 3.6: Housing & Economic Development . ................................34 Section 3.7: Transportation . ................................................38 Section 3.8: Demographics . ................................................44 Part 4: Recommendations . ..................................................49 Section 4.1: Land Use . ....................................................52 Section 4.2: Infrastructure& Facilities. .62 Section 4.3: Parks &Open Space. .64 Section 4.4: Urban Design ..................................................68 Section 4.5: Historic Preservation . ...........................................70 Section 4.6: Housing & Economic Development . ................................71 Section 4.7: Transportation . ................................................74 Part 5: Public Involvement . ..................................................95 Part 6: Implementation . .....................................................99 Section 6.1: Action Program. .100 Section 6.2: Land Use & Zoning Changes .....................................108 v Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Part 1: Executive Summary Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates 1 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 Introduction south of Freedom Parkway and west of Boulevard, which were studied in 2005 as part of the Butler- The Old Fourth Ward is a dynamic and diverse Auburn Redevelopment Plan Update. neighborhood with a rich history. Like many Atlanta neighborhoods, it is facing significant new The study area includes a broad mix of land uses. challenges as it enters a period of rapid change. These range from multifamily along Boulevard; To understand and respond to these challenges, to traditional single-family areas east, west and this plan explores the neighborhood’s past, its south of it; to gated multifamily complexes and present, and its potential to create a proactive, high-rises in the area cleared by urban renewal in community-based framework for future growth. the 1960s and 1970s. Study Area Overview Historic resources also abound in the Old Fourth Ward, including the birthplace of civil rights leader The study area for this effort includes the portions and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther of the Old Fourth Ward bordered by Ponce de King, Jr. Historic homes and business line many Leon Avenue to the north, the BeltLine to the east, neighborhood streets. Decatur Street to the South, Boulevard/Freedom Parkway to the southwest, and Piedmont Avenue The map below shows the study area in red. It to the west. It excludes parts of the neighborhood encompasses 763 acres and over 2,000 parcels. Old Fourth Ward Master Plan study area 2 Executive Summary Master Plan Goals The goals of this master plan are to: • Define what the Old Fourth Ward should be in 25 or even 50 years. • Encourage a diverse and sustainable mix of housing, employment, shopping, and open space. • Accommodate and encourage smart growth and redevelopment while protecting the neigh- borhood’s existing character, businesses, and residents. • Improve the neighborhood’s visual character. The Old Fourth Ward is rich in historic resources and sense • Reestablish broken connections across the of place BeltLine, Freedom Parkway, and I-75/85. • Leverage growth and development along the zones on its fringes, and commercial uses. BeltLine to foster improvements throughout • Development pressure is changing the face of the neighborhood. many parts of the neighborhood, particularly • Create a stronger identity and character for adjacent to the BeltLine. the Old Fourth Ward. • The neighborhood is well served by schools, It is was these community-based goals that guided churches, and public facilities, but public the master planning effort. safety challenges remain, particularly along Boulevard. Existing Conditions • The neighborhood benefits from several large The planning process included a detailed review and small parks, but new development will of existing conditions. Transportation, land use, increase the demand on these facilities and urban design, historic resources, demographics, demand new park spaces. parks, and other existing conditions were carefully reviewed during the planning process to identify • Bus and rail service exist in and near the opportunities and issues. neighborhood, and new facilities are likely, yet much remains to be done to maximize use of Among the key findings are that: existing routes. • Neighborhood residents are diverse in terms • Vehicular traffic is well served by an existing of age, race, income, and educational level, grid of streets, but opportunities exist to create but unchecked growth could displace existing new streets and improve roadway operations. residents. • Walking is supported by compact land use • The neighborhood has a wealth of historic patterns, but poor sidewalk conditions and resources. pedestrian-unfriendly development discour- age walking. • Historically the neighborhood was character- ized by a human-scaled, architecturally rich, • A range of bicycle facilities exist, including urban fabric, yet major damage was done to off-street trails and on-street bike routes, but this fabric in the twentieth century. opportunities exist to improve biking condi- tions. • Its mix of land uses is dominated by single- family houses, multifamily blocks, industrial 3 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 • Transportation Recommendations will reduce driving, improve air quality, promote health, and allow residents to save money. Land Use Recommendations The recommended land use plan permits growth, but directs it into appropriate